I just came across this and thought I’d share. I’ve struggled to get headers and IC’s off boards after soldering them on backwards/upside down. This video shows a cool trick with a piece of copper wire that makes them very easy and quick to get off without expensive tooling. I was thoroughly impressed. Hope someone else finds this useful too.
I picked up a Hakko desoldering gun many years ago to save me from this. It was pricey (~$300), but has been worth it over the years.
This trick might be more useful for people who are budget constrained. In the past I’ve resorted to cutting the plastic between the headers (making them unusable), so this is a nice alternative without the need for another tool. If budget wasn’t an issue I’d likely buy a much nicer iron and an extra wide knife-style tip.
Same. It’s been a lifesaver and a confidence booster because I know I can more easily recover from mistakes.